THE future of two of Wirral's biggest sporting developments looked uncertain last night after almost #1m in lottery funding was cut.

THE future of two of Wirral's biggest sporting developments looked uncertain last night after almost #1m in lottery funding was cut.

Financial problems at Sport England have forced the organisation to pull cash set aside for 40 schemes nationally, including the planned sports complex at Pensby High School for Boys and a club house for West Kirby Sailing Club.

It comes as a massive blow to both and puts the future of the schemes in jeopardy.

Pensby High School for Boys lost more than #892,000.

Mike McCartney, brother of Sir Paul and a member of the school's board of governors, said: "This is terrible news. The amount of work that has gone into this is huge and this is a big blow.

"The sad thing is that people across Wirral will suffer. This is a community facility that would be open to everyone.

"And how on earth are we going to get the sporting stars of tomorrow? We need decent facilities for children to train at.

"But we must keep on or the youngsters will lose out. It is no good having a dream unless you make it a reality so we will continue until it is."

Plans for the sports complex, which includes badminton courts, an artificial pitch and fitness suite, were first drawn up 13 years ago but raising the cash to build it has proved a long and difficult process.

Last year, private firm Euphoria withdrew its #400,000 share of the project and the council met the shortfall. The successful stage one Sport England bid meant there was finally enough money in the coffers to make the scheme a reality.

Martin Jones, headteacher at the school, added: "We are clearly very disappointed and we will be questioning why this has happened.

"We were hoping to start the work quite soon but now we going to have to find some other way of funding it.

"But we will not give up."

West Kirby Sailing Club had submitted a bid for a new club house and had been granted #87,700.

Paul Churchill, chairman of the club, was unavailable for comment last night.

Sport England announced #31.8m in cuts nationally as its cash crisis worsened.

In December, new chairman Patrick Carter ordered a freeze on funding and staff numbers have been cut from 570 to 240 in a bid to save money. The body's income from the lottery has steadily been on the decline.

Roger Draper, Sport England chief executive, said: "We had given a commitment to fund all these projects but they were all reviewed to make sure we are getting the right schemes moving forward.

"We do not underestimate the disappointment that some applicants will feel, but all the projects were thoroughly reviewed and we have not been able to agree to release funding for every project.

"It is short-term pain for long-term gain. We are not saying 'that's it' but we are telling people to have another look at the criteria we have laid down and maybe in the future bring them back on board."